Creative space: Jeff McCann

Each day this week, you're invited to take a look inside the workspace of a Riverina creative. First up, meet illustrator and maker Jeff McCann from Wagga Wagga, who works out of the apartment he shares with his girlfriend Missy.

Quite often my job takes me inside people's homes and workspaces. I never tire of these visits; they're one of my favourite parts of my job. I love seeing what books, trinkets and photographs are on display and am also an admirer of architecture. It's not just something I enjoy doing through work, I'm addicted to photography blogs like The Selby, The Design Files and more recently The Design Sponge that let you explore homes and studios online.

This week I'm really excited to show you five creative spaces in the Riverina region. Today, Jeff McCann's lets us take a look around his the apartment in Wagga Wagga, which doubles as his studio space.

Jeff, can you tell us what you make?Officially I go by the title of product designer and illustrator, but I consider myself a maker. I love to make things, whether it is canvas or tapestry, illustrations, handbags, hand bound books or furniture pieces; as long as there is an element of recycling or reusing I am usually happy.

How do you find working from home?I really like working from home. It’s cheaper (no petrol or car needed) and it is easier to stop for snack breaks, which is always important. In an ideal world it would be great to have the convenience of an amazing studio space with lots of room for your tools, supplies, projects and prototypes. A place where you can leave everything set up without it obstructing the path to the kitchen, but until that day I enjoy the fact that my work can at times take over my home. I get to live and breathe my work, surrounded by the things I love and admire and have created. What can you see from your studio?Due to the lack of room I have built a large milk crate storage system that runs along the window in the spare room. I am forever piling things up on top of it too, which means I don’t really look out of it. But on a happier note, I do enjoy the view from our kitchen, where we have our plants and herbs growing.

What's a typical day of work for you?A typical day for me begins with having a smoothie and making a to-do list. I’m a huge fan of lists; I love crossing things off it when they are complete. It is very satisfying. I tend to work for as long as I need to, if I am working on commissions or contract work I will definitely manage my time and work to the deadlines, but apart from that I’m happy to just be creating. I usually will work from about 10am until midnight. Obviously I stop for food breaks and the occasional Twitter or Facebook check. I usually get 2-3 days a week to work on my creative projects and I am happy to work long hours on these days because I am doing what I love. I will always have music on in the background and a fan blowing a breeze. Your work ranges from illustration to construction to sewing – how do you decide what you’re going to make next?I go through phases depending on what commission pieces I have to do. If I am getting ready for markets I spend a lot of time organising prints and making gift cards and handbags. Where as if I am entering art prizes or competitions I will tend to draw and paint a lot more. Since cardboard became my material of choice I have started to move away from textiles and fabric. I still use the same mindset for textiles work, but instead of needle and thread I am now using paper and glue.And where have you picked up all of your different skills?I have always drawn, so I suppose my illustration skills have slowly developed as I have grown up. My influences have also changed and at the moment I draw a lot of inspiration from street art, tapestries, children’s illustrations and music videos.

In terms of construction I learnt a lot whilst studying a Bachelor of Arts (Design for Theatre and Television). I got to test the waters primarily in costume and set design, which then gave me the confidence and grounds to expand from there. I also don’t mind the odd YouTube tutorial.

What’s your favourite thing in your current workspace?My favourite thing is the Matryoshka (Babushka inspired) dolls of Missy and myself that we call ‘Little Wooden Friends'. We got these blank wooden dolls from a friend whilst we were in Berlin in mid 2012. Missy and I decided to paint each other on the dolls and start an ongoing photographic project with them.